Technology Planning part of the Education Reform Network

Technology Planning

The Technology Planning Network is a catalog of resources addressing planning for technology.

1. Access (workstations, networking, bandwidth, software)
   
2. Educator Professional Development
   
3. General planning resources
   
4. Overall program assessment
   
5. Policy
   
6. Student standards and assessment
   
7. Support (both technical and pedagogical)
   

• Reinventing Schools: The Technology is Now
  The National Academy of Science offers ideas about the potential of new technologies to transform learning in schools. Topics include:*The Nintendo Generation: Information technologies permeate the lives of school children.
• 21St Century Literacy in a Convergent Media World
  The goal of this work by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the AOL Time Warner Foundation is to identify and present examples of global initiatives that are addressing the need to develop 21st Century Literacy Skills.
• A Guide to Networking for K-12 Schools
  A Guide to Networking for K-12 Schools is the result of a project originally masterminded and developed at the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and turned over for final production to the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's (NWREL) Northwest Educational Technology Consortium (NETC).
• A Series of Studies by Henry Jay Becker
  The Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations (CRITO) through TLC, has compiled a number of studies and snapshots that Hank Becker has completed over several years. These studies examine the relationship between technology implementation in schools, teaching practices, and school reform.
• AccessIT
  AccessIT promotes the use of electronic and information technology (E&IT) for students and employees with disabilities in educational institutions at all academic levels. This Web site features the AccessIT Knowledge Base, a searchable, growing database of questions and answers regarding accessible E&IT.
• Apple - Technology Planning Guide
  Apple Computer Corporation's "Technology Planning Guide_ is a logically-written, common sense guide useful to all K-12 planners.
• Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow (Report #7, 1990)
  Though seemingly dated, this archive of reports emerging from the Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow (ACOT) program provides a foundation for schools seeking information related to the changes required for instructional technology to be effective.
• Assessing the Technology Plan
  After researching and developing the technology plan, it is essential to assess its function and workability. In this critical step, you will evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the design and the impact it will have to the district.
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• Campbell-Kibler Associates
  For the past 25 years Dr. Patricia B.
• Center for Applied Special Technology
  CAST is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to expand educational opportunities for individuals with disabilities through the development and innovative uses of technology. CAST believes that the most effective strategy for expanding educational opportunities for individuals with disabilities is through Universal Design for Learning.
• CEO Forum on Education and Technology
  The Interactive School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart is a self-assessment tool designed to provide schools with the information they need to better integrate technology into their educational process. Here, one can complete an online, multiple-choice questionnaire that will provide instant feedback on how well a school is doing in this process.
• Digital Divide Network
  Despite the incredible growth of the Internet since the early 1990s, many citizens still do not have easy access to basic IT tools, whether it's access to hardware, software, or the Internet itself. Access is an issue that affects people at home, at school and in the community at large.
• Digital Transformation - A Framework for ICT Literacy
  In January 2001, Educational Testing Service convened an international panel to study the growing importance of existing and emerging Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and their relationships to literacy. The pane had two major themes: to examine the need for a measure of ICT literacy across countries and to develop a Framework for ICT literacy.
• Distance Learning Guidelines
  Established in 1997 to provide an integrated quality assurance service for United Kingdom higher education, this independent body is funded by subscriptions from universities and colleges of higher education, and through contracts with the main higher education funding bodies. Once again, though targeting higher education, the guidelines have broader applicability.
• Educator's Guide to Evaluating the Use of Technology in Schools and Classrooms
  This guide was developed for the U.S. Department of Education by the American Institutes for Research in conjunction with its formative evaluation of the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund.
• EnGauge
  The enGauge framework identifies Six Essential Conditions- system-wide factors critical to effective uses of technology for student learning, and then provides a comprehensive set of evaluative tools that give schools the opportunity to measure their effectiveness in each of the Six Essential Conditions.
• Equal Access: Computer Labs
  As increasing numbers of people with disabilities pursue educational opportunities that require computer use, accessibility of computing facilities becomes even more critical. The key is simply equal access.
• Gauging Return on Investment: Assessing Professional Growth in Skill and Use
  This article by Jamie McKenzie, first published in eSchool News (July/August, 1998), stresses the concept of assessment based on two principles: 1) We can't make adjustments in teaching and pedagogy until (or unless) we have a sense of whether what we are currently doing is working; and 2) Assessing and reporting the results openly gives our stakeholders the opportunity to understand that a robust investment in professional development pays great dividends when it comes to technology.
• Getting the Most from Technology in Schools
  This report is designed to put the role of educational technology in the proper context, not as the focus of learning but as a valuable tool to support it. Getting information from a number of other sources, this report summarizes the most important aspects of the role for educational technology.
• Gina Amenta-Shin Ed. D.
  Gina is a member of ISTE's NETS for Teachers Writing Team and NSCD's Staff Development Standards for Online Learning Team . Through her past experiences as both a doctoral student and professor, Gina has developed multiple perspectives of distance learning - using interactive technology and virtual communities to facilitate online professional development.
• Guiding Principles for Distance Teaching and Learning
  The American Distance Education Consortium is an international consortium of state and land grant institutions providing distance education programs and services to their members. While most of the members of the consortium are higher education institutions, the principles have relevance to K-12 education as well.
• How Wireless Systems Work /Powerpoint presentation
  How Wireless Systems Work is a Powerpoint presentation that describes many of the fundamental terms and concepts underlying wireless communications. This presentation may be helpful in providing fundamental backround in considering a wireless network.Thomas Sugrue Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Federal Communications Commission [PowerPoint (1.8MB) / pdf (1.2MB)] .
• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) - Administrator Standards
  The Technology Standards for School Administrators (TSSA) were developed by ISTE in collaboration with a variety of partners.
• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) - Student Standards
  ISTE has been integral in the creation and dissemination of technology standards for the entire educational community. All standards have been created through consortia with distinguished partners and co-sponsors.
• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) - Teacher Standards
  The National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers were developed by ISTE with others through a Preparting Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology grant from the US DEpartment of Education.
• IT Journal
  The IT Journal is a publication of the Instructional Technology Program at the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education. Articles submitted by students and faculty pertain to the field of Instructional Technology and Design.
• K-12 Networking Infrastructure Guide Recommendations
  The technology infrastructure within a school district will consist of many components depending upon the goals, objectives and resources of the district for integrating technology into learning and administrative functions. There are a variety of approaches and issues that need to be considered within the classroom, at the building level and across the district.
• K-12 STaR Chart
  The CEO Forum on Education & Technology has developed two School Technology & Readiness (STaR) Charts, one for the K-12 community and the other for colleges of education. Both contain a series of questions that, once answered, enable you to get instantaneous feedback on your institution's level of readiness in using technology.
• Laptop Lessons: Exploring the Promise of One to One Computing
  This highlights issues to consider when implementing a laptop or one-to-one program in a K-12 school.
• Learning With Technology Profile Tool
  NCRTEC and NCREL are developing a suite of tools to support schools in technology planning and integration. The Learning With Technology Profile Tool is a computer program intended to help educators think carefully about their practice in the areas of engaged learning and technology.
• National Center for Technology Planning
  The National Center for Technology Planning (NCTP) is a clearinghouse for the exchange of many types of information related to technology planning. This information may be: school technology plans available for downloading via a computer network; technology planning aids (checklists, brochures, sample planning forms, PR announcement forms); and/or electronic monographs on timely, selected topics.
• National Staff Development Council
  The National Staff Development Council's revised Standards for Staff Development reflect what NSDC and the broader staff development community have learned about professional learning since the creation of the original standards in 1995. New information available at this site includes how to apply the NSDC Professional Development standards to online professional development.
• National Study of School Evaluation: Indicators of Quality
  What should students know and be able to do as a result of a quality information technology program? What are the indicators of high performing instructional and organizational systems that support students' achievement of the desired results for their learning? These questions and other critical issues related to identifying research-based indicators of high performing technology systems are addressed in the NSSE's publication, Indicators of Quality Information Technology Systems in K-12 Schools.
• Northwest Educational Technology Consortium's Equity Survey
  This survey allows individuals to find out what they can do to help ensure equity in educational technology. By selecting a topic to view a checklist of questions, participants can use the assorted surveys to assess how well they are providing equity in educational technology.
• Online Content for Low-Income and Underserved Americans: The Digital Divide's New Frontier:
  This report, published in Spring 2000, was one of the first studies to examine content issues and the digital divide. Much of the public concern about the digital divide has been focused on the gap between those who have the "boxes" and "wires" they need for Internet access and those who do not.
• PCC Assessment Tool
  by The Milken Family Foundation 6/07/00 | This tool, which has been converted into a PDF document, and is a companion to the Professional Competency Continuum document, has been designed to provide educators with an opportunity to assess their status within the skill and knowledge areas described in that continuum. The PCC Assessment Tool features two different assessments.
• Planning for Learning with Technology
  This guidebook offers tools and strategies to help the planning team identify why, when, and how to incorporate technology successfully. A template is provided so that the team can easily transform their ideas into an action plan; online resources are available throughout this guide, in Appendix C, and at http://www.rmcdenver.com/eetnet/default.htm.
• Plugging In: Choosing and Using Educational Technology
  Plugging In: Choosing and Using Educational Technology ,is another older (1995) but still appropriate publication that introduces what we know about effective learning and effective technology, and puts it together in a planning framework for educators and policymakers. After reading about effective learning and technology, educators can follow the instructions in the yellow section to actually use the framework to plan technology and technology-enhanced programs that complement learning.
• Principles of Good Practice for Distance Learning/Web-Based Courses
  When providing courses and programs through distance learning methods, institutions should establish standards and encourage academic integrity equivalent to courses offered in a traditional, campus-based environment. These Principles of Good Practice, adapted from the 1999 Guidelines for Distance Education by the North Central Association Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NCA), are suggested as a guide for Missouri institutions as they develop and implement courses for, and assess their involvement in, distance education and web-based course delivery.
• South Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium's Profiler Tool
  Profiler is designed to help groups of individuals improve their skills around a general topic by inspiring cooperation and collaboration among teachers and students within a school. The best way to see Profiler in action is to experiment with the demonstration.
• Standards
  Currently, 49 states have adopted state standards and most districts are assisting schools in bringing standards-based reform to life in classrooms. As a result, practice is changing and, in many cases, student achievement is increasing.
• Teachers' Internet Use Guide
  Standards-Based Instruction is the primary focus of this website. Here, you will: Learn how to design, develop, implement, and evaluate a standards-based lesson that uses the Internet;Explore some sample lessons that were created using this process; and Design your own lesson.
• Technology Briefs for NCLB Planners
  The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation emphasizes the importance of leveraging the power of technology in all areas of K-12 education, from reading to science to special education. As a result, education leaders at the state and local levels are expected to develop plans that effectively employ technology to enhance learning and increase student achievement.
• Technology in Schools: Suggestions, Tools and Guidelines for Assessing Technology in Elementary and Secondary Education
  This guide was written by the National Forum on Education Statistics under NCES's Cooperative Education Statistics System. Directed toward state and local education agencies, it describes how to measure technology use by examining planning and policies; finance; equipment and infrastructure; technology applications; maintenance and support; professional development; and technology integration.
• TechSoup - The Technology Place for Non-Profits
  Although designed as a support place resource for non-profit organizations, this site offers solid technology planning advice, resources and tools. The information is written in straight-forward terms in a "question and answer_ format.
• Texas Technology Literacy Standards for Students and Educators
  The Technology Applications Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) found in 19 TAC Chapter 126 describe what students should know and be able to do using technology. As a part of the enrichment curriculum, these TEKS are to be used as guidelines for providing instruction.
• The Alliance for Technology Access
  The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is a network of community-based Resource Centers, Developers and Vendors, Affiliates, and Associates dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities, and increasing their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies.
• The Future of Networking Technologies for Learning
  In 1995 the US Department of Education commissioned a series of white papers on various issues related to networking technologies for education. Those fourteen papers are now on the web, along with the proceedings of the conference of authors in November 1995.
• The George Lucas Educational Foundation
  The foundation has created a website to share resources, research, professional development and examples of technology use, even if a person is working alone, so that they understand the uses of technology.
• The Growing Digital Divide in Access for People with Disabilities
  This White Paper was commissioned by the National Science Foundation was presented on May 25, 1999 at the "Understanding the Digital Economy_ conference; a public conference convened in response to a directive from the President of the United States to the National Economic Council, in consultation with executive branch agencies.
• The Technology Support Index (TSI)
  This is an assessment tool for schools and districts to profile their technology support programs and to provide solutions based on those unique profiles. Two assumptions are built into the use of the TSI: First, that all district have in place or are planning network infrastructure to every classroom.
• U.S. Copyright Office Home Page
  Here you will find all key publications, including informational circulars; application forms for copyright registration; links to the copyright law and to the homepages of other copyright-related organizations; news of what the Office is doing, including business-process reengineering plans, Congressional testimony and press releases; our latest regulations; a link to our online copyright records cataloged since 1978; and much more.
• Virtual Architecture - Curriculum-based Telecomputing Projects and REsources
  University of Texas Professor Judi Harris created a Web site that is rich in ideas on how to mine the Internet for projects. She offers a framework for designing and implementing curriculum-based telecomputing projects.
• Web Accessibility Initiative
  WAI, in coordination with organizations around the world, pursues accessibility of the Web through five primary areas of work: technology, guidelines, tools, education and outreach, and research and development.
• Wireless Technologies
  This gives descriptions of most of the developed wireless technologies and provides resources and background information that may be helpful to planners.